5 Favourite Walks in Ayrshire by Gillian's Walks

Posted on 13/06/2017

I am passionate about exploring! My blog now contains more than 100 routes mostly around the Ayrshire and Fife areas, all of them linked to downloadable ViewRanger routes so that others can enjoy them too.

Words cannot describe how incredible this section of the Ayrshire Coast is, you really need to experience it for yourself to truly appreciate it. One of the most rugged sections of coastline in the area, the route from the fishing village of Dunure involves a mixture of on-beach walking, cliff-top footpaths, and sections through working farmland (does the livestock even appreciate the view they have?!) Prepare yourself for stunning panoramas and a unique sense of remoteness that is hard to find anywhere else!

One of those hidden gems Ayrshire has to offer! This is an easy walk starting in the village of Straiton and taking you into a wooded glen to visit some surprisingly spectacular waterfalls. The ground surface is a mixture of tarmac roads and earth footpaths. My kids loved it!

Peden’s Cove is hidden inside Ayr Gorge Woodland, a Scottish Wildlife Trust reserve. This beautiful and ancient woodland is formed around an incredible red sandstone canyon, which gives the water of the River Ayr a vibrant red appearance when the sun shines onto it! Peden's Cove, a set of steps carved into the red sandstone cliffs, is reached a mile along the footpath. This is a fantastic walk for the whole family; not to be missed if you are in the Ayrshire area!

The Isle of Arran is absolutely my favourite place in Scotland. Never been? Go tomorrow! Most people who go hiking on the island are heading for the hills but there are so many low level walks to enjoy, including this one from the ferry terminal in Brodick right into the heart of Glen Rosa. Surrounded by the beauty and majesty of the granite mountains, follow the Glenrosa Water as it winds its way up the Glen. Will you be tempted to take a dip in one of the crystal clear rock pools?!

I firmly believe that this has to be one of the finest railway walks in Scotland! Full of features from the days when it was a working track, it is nicely preserved without the nasty tarmac which tends to befall such routes when local councils decide to make cycle tracks of them. This one is grassy with several stone bridges still intact and the remains of a railway viaduct too! Being at a slightly elevated position you can enjoy views across the farmland of the peaceful Irvine Valley. The end of the walk is at the Spirit of Scotland monument. From here, why not take the opportunity to climb the short but steep volcanic plug that is Loudoun Hill? From the summit on a clear day you will be rewarded with incredible panoramic views over Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, the Firth of Clyde and the Isle of Arran!